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Hi there an thanks for looking in.
I dicided to make a log because I have many question and its better for everyone if I make just one fourm.
Its a 48G i got it 2weeks ago, It is cycled, water permeters are good. It is slightly planted.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/Xlinkinparkx/c8595a7c.jpg
Few changes have been made.


This is the first stage of the aquarium, New pics comming soon.


My stock plan is:
10 serpea tetras
6 corys
6 Zebra Danios
1 Dwarf Gourami
2 Blue Rams(pair)
3 Ottos or 1 Bristle Nose

So far I have:
6 corys
6 serpea tetras
1 Dwarf Gourami

My first problem is i have alot of hair like alge growing on my glass, and since this is a new aquarium i am worried, I am thinking of gettin the 3 ottos or Bristle nose now instead of wating for more alge to grow.

Thankyou for Checking My Log, Ill appreciate the feedback.

P.S.: Will the serpea tetras nip the otto or harras them?



10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

How did you cycle it in 2 weeks? What are your water parameters...you say good, but what do you mean?

How much light do you have?

*Kristin*

I have no clue...the girl at the pet store told me it was ready, i have plants and pices from an alredy well established tank in there. I also put some gravel in. To speed it along.
Do you think it is too fast? I do not use plant fretilizer and I dont over feed my fish, and my corys pick up the leftovers if any(but i do feed them tablets)

But I dont have a test kit.


10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

I find it hard to believe that your tank cycled in 2 weeks. Even with the added gravel and plants. Your tank would have to be pretty heavily planted to help the cycle along that fast.

I would request exact numbers. I have never had water tested at a LFS, but I would ask for the numbers, not a good/bad answer. Who knows if they are doing the test right?

I would either invest in a test kit or ask for the numbers.

*Kristin*

Good Idea, since I have a big aquarium I think I will buy one, but why would they lie??? Unless like you said they did the test wrong.
How long should it take?2-3 weeks?Its started fishless but since there fish now its diffrent.
The pics of the aquarium and alge will come soon. Thankyou

Ill make sure I won't add fish for another week or two.



10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

I think I did it too fast, I promised my self not too

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

I think I did it too fast, I promised my self not too

Don't we all have the habit of doing this mistake over and over again!

xlinkinparkx - Yeah, as I already questioned in your other thread about this tank, and as you and Kristin have already identified here in this thread, your tank doesn't seem cycled to me either. Given your small plant mass (almost none) I seriously doubt that you carried enough "material" into the tank to maintain the biological filtration. In particular if you would only have added these items and then waited a few days without "feeding" them with something (fish food, ammonia, Bio-Spira, etc).

My theroy on your algae: Fish create waste - no bacteria there to eat it up - algae finds the ammonia and phosphates - threads.

In general, having an Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate testkit for a new tank is always a good idea, if not even a must (except if you realllly know what you do). I would think that at this point you should be concerned about your fish and the possibility that your tank is just beginning to cycle.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well I'm sure its almost done, but I am thinking of investing in a master kit, or shoud i just get the one that test ammonia?

What should i do if its not cycled yet???

Just wondering if i can add 1m/2f plays(females in my 10G)
Just to breed for fun and which ever fry live ill keep in my 10 or sell??Or will they get nipped by my damn serpea tetras?

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

Get a master test kit. You won't be sorry...it will save you lots of time going to the LFS to get water tested. Master kits have ammonia, pH, nitrite, and nitrate. Aquarium Pharmaceuticals makes a good master kit and its not that expensive (like $14US).

If you are still cycling (which means ammonia and nitrite are registering), don't add any more fish. When everything reads 0, then you could add the platies.

I am not sure if the platies will get nipped. It may be more like harassed and not nipped. Depending on the Serpaes' aggression level, they may leave the platies alone, and they may not. You won't know until you try. When the tank is finished cycling, go ahead and add the platies...just make sure the 10g is available if it doesn't work out.

In a bigger group, aggressive fish (like serpaes and tiger barbs) are supposed to focus more on themselves, instead of other fish. I still wouldn't trust them with an angel or long finned fish.
As long as the platies aren't extremely slow fish (I wouldln't know...never kept them), they should be fine.

By the way, one way to speed up the cycle, if you are still cycling, is to add more plants. Get some fast growers like wisteria, water sprite, bacopa, rotala rotundifolia, dwarf sag. They will help keep the ammonia level lower also, which is good for your fish.

*Kristin*

Sounds like a plan, gonna get my westria from my 10, Ill let it float(appentlly it soaks up more nitares that way..

My serpeas dont attack my other fish(acctually one cory schools with them lol funny) just at feeding time they might harras my gourami or corys but they eat. But all there fins are nipped(tetras)...I mean is this normal just the dominate male has good fins, I'd love for there fins to be full, No major damage just some nibbles here and there.

Last thing, Rams have long flowing fins. but I hope they can handle themselves since there cichlids..I gusse.

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

I believe rams can handle themselves. They also stay towards the bottom more, so they'll be out of the Serpaes way. My 2 inch female ram goes after my 2.5in bolivian ram female if she gets too close to her "territory".

My flame/von rios tetras also have nipped fins. They don't bother anyone else though...not even the angels. But they aren't as known for fin nipping as serpaes. I think just about all tetras nip between their kind. Its a hierarchy thing...trying to establish who is dominant.

*Kristin*

the alge is just getting worst...just a lil update


10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

How much light is over the tank? Is it fluorescent or compact fluorescent? How long do you leave the lights on?

*Kristin*

Ok I just got back for the pet store(my favorite one)
My water is
0 AMMONIA
0 NITRITE
Somewhere Between15-0(9) NITRATE
(guy was really good and explained everything for me)

My only problem is my PH is way too high at 8.5, the guy explained eveything and our PH here is supposed to be 7.8 so he told me to check for acidic things and to take out shells and do a water change, so thats what I did. He also said the alge might be comming from the carbon i out in my filter that was alredy in my establishe 10gallon and he will order me a Bristle Nose Pleco.

I'm gonna reduce my light time, besides that everything is good.

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

Can you tell me how many watts of light you have over your tank? Sometimes the lighting can cause algae.

*Kristin*

Yes Sir. I have 2 life glo 2 36", 30watt flourescent bulbs, I think I have been leaving it on too long, I was leaving it on almost all day(13-15H) because I thaught the plants needed more light, but I'll cut down to 8H.

Thanks for all the help GirlieGirl

EDIT: I added 2 female platys(from 10G) No nipping so far from the serpeas, platys chase them away, Going to get a male platy soon probably tommrow or thursday and Ill order my pleco at the same time.

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

Yep, I believe the light probably caused the algae. 8-10 is better for planted tanks.

*Kristin*

Hello, I was wondering if I could get a female Gourami for my male so he can have some company, but I have heard 2 things
First i heard the 1m/2f is beter, but then I heard the a pair was good. So would this be a good idea, my only fear is that they will breed and something bad will happen, like they might get over aggresive and kill another fish or something. Gonna go do some research.

What do you guys think?Thanks

EDIT: When someone says that fish like floating plants, do I acctually let the plant float at the surface? I know my plants are floating plants, but i never understood this, the keep falling to the bottom.

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys

If you plan on adding any female gouramis, I would add atleast 2. The male my be aggressive and kill the female, if you only had one.

Do you have any type of metal band on the plant? Do you still have a whole bunch (more than one stem) with something holding them together? If you have metal bands on them take them off. You should take them off before planting anyways. The plant should float if it doesn't have anything weighing it down. My plants float if I don't bury them in the gravel.

Another good floating plant is Hornwort.

*Kristin*

I think that is what I have. I want to let it float but it keeps getting stuck in my drift wood.
I took out those metal piec out and dug it in my self. Gusse I'lll just leave it for my Gourami Thankx.

10gallon: 8neons 5gallon: 1betta
1oto
2platys